Jonathan Ross says he is ‘horrified’ by David Walliams’ allegations and Russell Brand’s conviction

Detailed summary

British TV presenter Jonathan Ross is “horrified” by the allegations that have come to light about David Walliams as well as by Russell Brand’s conviction for rape. Ross issued a…

Jonathan Ross has issued a statement saying he'd always been "genuinely unaware" of David Wallaims' and Russell Brand's conduct. Photo / Getty Images

British TV presenter Jonathan Ross is “horrified” by the allegations that have come to light about David Walliams as well as by Russell Brand’s conviction for rape.

Ross issued a statement saying that he had been “on friendly terms” with both men in the past but added he had always been “genuinely unaware of their conduct”.

David Walliams and Russell Brand were both guests of the Jonathan Ross Show on multiple occasions.

In his statement, Ross also addressed a joke he made at a comedy awards show in 2004, when he said Walliams would be “going home” with a 15-year-old girl.

He called the joke “tasteless” and stressed that he had no idea of the allegations that would later transpire.

“Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him,” he said.

Ross, whose connection to both men dates back several years, said in the statement that he was “as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation”.

“My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward,” the TV show host added.

Opening of the article, excerpted from NZ Herald. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.